Garment stretching device



Jan. 19, 1932. E. A. EMERY ET AL 1,841,719

GARMENT STRETCHING DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l gnvc'rfloz Orbs 2/. Ban/den Edgar A. Emery Jan. 19, 1932. E. A. EMERY ET AL GARMENT STRETCHING DEVICE Filed 061,. 26. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 wue +1 4' 1w 0)"//6 M Bow den Edgar AEmer'y Patented Jan. 19, 1932 V UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE EDGAR .A. EMERY ORLIS V. BOW'DEN, 01 DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNORS TO IBROJDIE H. .ASZEEBY, OF DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS GARMENT STRETCHING DEVICE Application filed October 26, 1928. Serial No. 315,212.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in garment stretching devices. One of the worst problems confronting the cleaners today is a means of accurately 5 stretching wet washed trousers. It is'necessary to either use a press or a steam board for this purpose which should be used for pressing and nothing else. Our invention has many advantages and while its manufactur- 1 ing cost is small its purpose and use saves a considerable amount of time and labor.

One object of the invention is to provide a means whereby trousers, when wet washed or otherwise cleaned, can be stretched their 15 natural width and length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby trousers can be stretched without necessitating the tying up.

of valuable machinery and expensive help.

Still another object of the invention is to place on the market a device than can be purchased by the smallest of cleaning shops. A device that will enable their pressing machine to be on the job at all times and one that will 25 save the cleaner its purchase price within a few months.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation,.partly in section, of a device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, showing independent expanding means for the stretching members,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device, partly in section,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevation, and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the position of the stretching members when the length of the trouser leg is to be pulled.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates fastened to the bottom of the steam head 11 7 having a port 17 therein, whereby anywater that may be in the head, due to the condensation of steam, will be suitably drained from the head. This'water, due to the slope of 95 the drain, will, by gravity, flow through the port 17' in the drain. This port can be suitably connected with a pipe so that the water may be disposed of by any suitable means.

Tubular stretching members 18 and 18' are m expandably fastened to the head 11 by means of a set of linkages A and B. A hearing 19 on one end of each of said stretching members suitably supports and pivots said members to the set of linkages A, as is best shown in Fig. 2. On the opposite end of the tubular stretching members 18.and 18' a slotted bearing 19' is suitably placed to slidably pivot the linkages B and support the stretching members.

The linkages A, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, are made up of parts 20, 21, 22 and 23. These parts are pivoted together by suitable studs or bolts 24' and the action of the linkage is as follows. One end' of the links 20 and 23 are securely pivoted to the steam head 11 in any suitable place, while the other ends of said links are pivotally secured to the bearings 19 on the stretching members 18 and 18'. One end of the links 21 and 22 are also pivoted to the bearings 19 on the stretching members 18 and 18, working in connection with the links 20 and 23. The opposite ends of the links 21 and 22 are pivotally fastened in any suitable manner, to a slide 24, which upon the opening and closing action of the linkages slides in a-horizontal plane in order that the linkages will be expanded evenly. The coil spring 25, which is fastened at one end to the slide 24 and at the other end to a fixed part 26 on the steam head 11, tends to keep the linkages at all times in a closed position.

The linkages B, best illustrated in Fig. 2,

are composed of members 27, 28; 29 and 30. One end of the links 27 and 30 are securely pivoted to the steam head 11 in any suitable place, while the opposite ends of said links are slidably pivoted to the slotted bearings 19'. One end of the links 28 and 29, working in connection with the links 27 and 30, are also slidably pivoted to the slotted bearings 19', in any suitable manner.

The opposite end of the links 28 and 29 are suitably pivoted to a slide 31. The slide 31, working on top of-the steam head 11, retains the linkages in a fixed plane in order that their expansion will be the same on either side of the steam head. A coiled spring 32 fastened at one end to the slide 31 and at the other end to a lug 33 on the steam head 11 tends, at all times, to keep the linkages B in a closed position. These linkages are ac tuated by practically the same method as the linkages A. A rod 44 is fastened at one end thereof to a lug 45 on the slide 31, the other end of the rod being suitably pivotedto a bell crank 46. This bell crank is pivoted to the member 10 in any suitable position thereon and is actuated by a rod 47 that has one end thereof pivotally fastened to a part of said bell crank, the other end of this rod being pivotally fastened to the foot pedal 41.

From the foregoing description of the linkages A and B, it is evident that these linkages may be expanded independently of each other due to the slotted arrangement, as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, if it is desired, the slotted bearings can be used to the same advantage on the front linkages A, as well as the linkages B.

One end of a suitable rod 33, which may either be of a rigid or pliable material, is fastened to the lug 34 on the slide 24, while the other end of the rod is pivotally fas tened to an arm of the bell crank 35. The bell crank 35, being securely pivoted to the upright support 10 in any suitable place, is actuated by a rod 36 which is fastened to a foot pedal 37. The foot pedal 37 pivots on a bearing 38, by any suitable means, and itsposition is controlled by a toothed member 39, which is engaged by a tooth 40 made integral with the foot pedal 37. '-Thus it is evident that when the foot pedal 37 is pressed downward the linkages A will be expanded and when so expanded will tightly press the tubular stretching members against the cuff of a trouser leg. While this position of the linkages is held, due to the engagement of the tooth'39 on the foot lever 37 with the toothed member 39, which may be either made integral with or fastened to the support 10, the rear linkages B may be expanded or adjusted by the foot pedal 41, which also has a tooth 42 made inte ral with the pedal and that can be engage with the toothed member 43 on the support 10.

A cover 48, as shown in Fig. 1, can be used, if desirable, to cover the entire working mechanism of the linkages over the steam column, in order to protect the trousers from any of the moving parts of the device.

The tubular stretching members 18 and 18 have at one end thereof inlet connections 49 to which are attached suitable swiveled or flexible steam conveyors 50. These steam conveyors are connected with a valve 51 by any suitable means, this valve being used for the purpose of regulating the steam which comes through the pipe 52 from the steam line 12, Outlet connections 53, being suitably located in each of the tubular stretching members 18 and 18 are connected at the lower end thereof with a suitable discharge pipe 54, which may be directly connected with a suitable drain. The purpose of this connection is for a drain as well as an outlet for what steam may accumulate in the tubular members. The purpose of the steam being applied to the tubular members is to heat them so that steam will not condense thereon. However, our invention is not to be limited to the use of steam asa heating agent. These arms may be heated by electricity or any other suitable means.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that the device is operated as follows: The foot pedals are raised, the springs on both the linkages pulling the tubular stretching members close to the side of the steam head. A trouser leg is then pulled on these stretching members until the cuff of the trouser leg is in alinement with the linkages A. These linkages are then expanded by the foot pedal 37, steam, of course, being injected into the trouser leg as soon as the leg is placed on the device, by slightly opening the valve 13 in the steam line.

a As soon as the steam in the trouser leg has allowed the cuffs of the same to be stretched as far as the cloth will permit without either ripping the steams or tearing the cloth, it is evident that with the tubular stretching members in the position shown in Fig. 6, that by catching hold of the trousers at the waist thereof and pulling same by hand, the cuff being securely held due to the expansion of the lmkages A, the length of the trouser leg can be easily stretched, the leg being against the tubular members at its cufi'. While this length is easily held by hand, all that is then necessary to get the correct width of the trousers', which may be either straight or tapered, is to press downward on the pedal 41 expanding the rear set of linkages B, causing the tubular stretching members to conform to the shape of the trouser leg and stretching same its proper width.

It is understood, of course, that the tempereanne ature of the tubular stretching members is such, by the use of the steam valve 51, that steam which is injected into the trouser leg will not condensate. All working parts of the device that are in the trouser leg will be either heated to prevent condensation by being in contact with the steam head or by other means, so that Wet washed trousers When ready for this device, being perfectly dry, will not be wet again and can be stretched practically in their dry state.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made Within the sdope of the appended claims.

What we claim, is:

1. In a trouser stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from the support, trouser stretching members disposed on each side of the head and extending longitudinally thereof, means for adjusting the stretching members laterally on each side of the head to stretch the leg of apair of trousers, and means for discharging steam Within the leg of the trousers while stretched on said members.

2.'In a trouser stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from. the support, trouser stretching members disposed on each side of the head and extending longitudinallythereof, means for adjusting the stretching members laterally on each side of the head to stretch the leg of a pair of trousers, means for discharging steam within the leg of the trousers while stretched on said members, and means for heating the stretching members to prevent condensation of the steam thereon.

3, In a trouser stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from the support, longitudinal stretching members mounted on each side of the head, means for ndependently expanding the stretching members laterally at each end for stretching the leg of a pair of trousers, and means for inp troducing steam between the stretching members and within the leg of the trousers.

l. In a trouser, stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from the support and having steam discharge openings spaced longitudinally thereof, means for supplying steam to the head, expandable stretching members disposed on each side of the head, and means for heating said members to prevent condensation of the steam thereon. l

5. In a trouser stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from the support having spaced steam discharge ports therein, means for supplying the steam to the head, laterally expandable longitudinal tubular stretching members on each side of ihe head, and means for expanding said memers.

6. In a trouser stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from the support having spaced steam discharge ports therein, means for supplying the steam to the head, laterally expandable longitudinal tubular stretching members on each side of the head spaced therefrom, means for expanding said members, and means separate from the head for supplying steam to said members.

7. In a trouser stretching device, an up right support, a head extending from said support, trouser stretching members disposed longitudinally of and on each side of the head, independent means at each end of the head connected with the members for independently spreading the members at each end, and means for independently operating said spreading members.

8. In a trouser stretching device, an upright support, a head extending from said support, trouser stretching members disposed longitudinally of and on eachside of the head, independent means at each end of the head connecte with the members for independently spr ading the members at each end, means for independently operating said spreading members, and means for supplying and discharging steam between said members.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

EDGAR'A. EMERY. ORLIS V. BOWDEN. 

